Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Aram Hajian
Business Administration
Minor in Armenian Studies
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
I took Armenian Studies because I am Armenian and I was curious to learn more about my culture.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
Learning the history of the Armenian people from beginning to end really opened my eyes to the struggle our people have gone through, but have yet maintained their religion.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
I enjoyed the language courses because of the complexity of the Armenian language. However, the two survey courses, Armenian History108A and B were the classes I looked forward to the most.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to work full time and try to stay integrated within the Armenian community.
Tatevik Hovhannisyan
Recreational Administration
Minor in Armenian Studies
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
Because I missed my homeland so much, the Armenian Studies courses were the classes that made me feel closer to home, but most importantly I wanted to explore the history of Armenians in the Diaspora and learn about their involvement in the development of our valley and the United States.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
The most valuable experiences I had were the amount of the information I learned about the Armenian history and the importance of different events that took place throughout the years. The people I have met and the memories I have created during the events are enormously important for me as well.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
All of the Armenian Studies courses are fascinating, but my favorite courses were “Arts of Armenia,” and the “Masterpieces of the Armenian Culture,” because the information in these courses is very interesting and useful. My favorite events were the commemorative activities for the Genocide, because it teaches many students, Armenian and non-Armenians, important information about the Genocide and the Armenian people.
What are your plans after graduation?
I hope to stay as involved as possible in the Armenian community; also I will be doing an internship in Fresno.
Vartush Mesropyan
Psychology
Minor in Armenian Studies
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
I wanted to take Armenian Studies courses to better myself as an Armenian. I have always wanted others to know of my people’s history, but only through the education that I gained from the ASP was I able to be more prepared and strong in how I accomplished this.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
I have been involved with ASO as a member, secretary, vice-president, and president. For seven years, I have also been involved with the Hye Oozh Radio Show. By being involved I have become patient, understanding, and have improved my leadership and communication skills. Being a part of the ASP has given me the courage to explore, learn and educate others about the Armenian rich culture, language and history.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
Every aspect of Armenian Studies was incredible. All the classes taught by Professor Der Mugrdechian, Professor La Porta and Professor Ohanessian were outstanding and filled with a lot of passion, energy and humor. I also enjoyed the classes taught by the two visiting professors, Dr. Sona Haroutyunian and Dr. Myrna Douzjian, which were related to the Genocide.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to take a year off from school and start planning my wedding then return and pursue a Master’s degree in counseling with an option of either in marriage, family counseling or student affairs and school counseling. I also plan on continuing my involvement with the local Armenian community.
Roza Marabyan
Social Work
Minor in Armenian Studies
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
At first, when I moved to the United State from Armenia, I never thought that I would study Armenian. I was surprised that in the United State colleges and universities gave the students a chance to study Armenian history. I decided to minor in Armenian Studies, because our history is so interesting and rich. I was very excited to see various ethnic students interested in my national history, religion, culture, art, beliefs, and values.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
I am very grateful and valued everything I learned in all of my Armenian courses. I learned more about my culture and roots than I could ever imagine. The Armenian Studies Program makes me feel proud to be an Armenian.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
I enjoyed all my Armenian Studies classes, especially, Armenian Studies 20, the Arts of Armenia. Professor Der Mugrdechian managed to teach us about the Armenian architecture, sculptures, artworks manuscripts and paintings in the most fascinating and detailed way. My favorite events are the Annual Banquet and the ASO Genocide Commemoration.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduating from Fresno State, I plan on traveling to Armenia to visit the historical monasteries and cities that we learned about during our classes. I am also planning on finding a job in social work.
Michael Rettig
History
Minor in Armenian Studies
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
I have been interested in Armenian history ever since I was young when I stumbled upon my great grandpa’s Armenian history books. Reading about Vartan and the Battle of Avarayr immediately sparked my interest in Armenian history. I am a fourth generation Armenian so I did not grow up immersed in the culture, aside from the cuisine. When I graduated from High School, I knew I wanted to go to Fresno State because of the strong Armenians Studies Program. I was excited to further broaden my knowledge of my ancestors to understand who we are as a people and to keep that alive.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
I most value the relationships I have made with fellow Armenian students. I have established friendships which I will have for the rest of my life.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
My favorite classes were the Armenian history courses. I am a history major, so I naturally gravitated towards that aspect of Armenian Studies. My favorite event is always the Genocide commemorations. I loved to see the Armenian community come together to honor our martyred ancestors and their memory. It is a time for us to reflect and to appreciate that we are still alive and thriving.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am planning to get my Masters in History and eventually teach at the university level.
Marine Vardanyan
Public Health
Minor in Armenian Studies
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
The Armenian Studies Program played a big role in my decision to attend Fresno State because I knew my college experience would be greatly enhanced by the numerous activities and projects organized by the Program. I immediately enrolled in the Armenian Studies courses because I was eager to learn from our very knowledgeable professors, discover more about myself and my heritage.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
Every minute spent with the ASP has been incredibly gratifying. I take pride in receiving a minor in Armenian Studies and having the opportunity to study under and work alongside Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian and Prof. Sergio La Porta. The ASP has encouraged me to expand my horizons, take initiative and get involved, and contribute to the Fresno Armenian community. I have met inspiring individuals, participated in momentous programs, and acquired a great deal of experience.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
The Armenian Studies Program is all encompassing and I have greatly enjoyed the variety of activities and events organized by the Program. The highlight of my experience was the Summer 2014 trip to Armenia with Prof. Der Mugrdechian and Prof. La Porta. It was very surreal to be in Armenia with my peers and experience all that we learned in the classrooms. I lived one of the best two weeks of my life traveling throughout Armenia, learning about the culture and history, enjoying unforgettable moments, and building a special bond with all the participants.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will take a break from school to travel to Europe. After I return, I intend on gaining hands-on experience working in the field of public health so I can apply my skills towards bettering the Central Valley as well as the Republic of Armenia. I will pursue a graduate degree after a year off from school.
Joseph Bohigian
Music-Composition
Minor in Armenian Studies
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
I decided to take Armenian Studies courses to learn more about Armenian culture and language and to become more connected with my Armenian heritage.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
I valued most my new understanding of the Armenian people and the experiences our ancestors have gone through which made us who we are today.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
My favorite Armenian Studies class was Armenian history.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I will pursue graduate studies in Music Composition at Stony Brook University in New York.
Lilit Grigoryan
Business Administration-Finance
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
My parents always kept telling me that no matter where you live, you need to always remember that you are Armenian and what being Armenian means. Although I have never lived in Armenia, I always wanted to preserve my “Armenian soul.” Taking Armenian Studies courses seemed a great way to stay connected with my country.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
I would like to say a big thank you to all my professors for putting so much effort to support the Program, so that students can reconnect with their roots. I truly appreciate all their work and knowledge they shared.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
Every class and every event was meaningful for me. Each class offers a great opportunity to learn about Armenia, and each event is an opportunity to experience our beautiful Armenian culture.
Arnold Muradyan
Biomedical Physics
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
I am Armenian and, at the time, had very little knowledge about my Armenian ancestors. I decided to take an Arts of Armenia course, and see if I would get interested. After taking the course I got inspired by Prof. Der Mugrdechian and took as many Armenian courses as I could.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
I will always value the knowledge I received about Armenian history and culture from an exceptional teacher, Professor Der Mugrdechian. Events and talks were great and memorable, but there is nothing in this Program I value more than the knowledge I got in the classroom when I took Armenian courses.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
Armenian 108B course was my favorite. It was the course where I learned about the struggles of Armenian people under foreign rule, the phenomenal people, such as Khrimian Hayrik, who loved and lived for the Armenian people, and the birth of the new Armenian Republic.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to attend Oregon State University and obtain an M.S. degree in Medical Physics.
Ovsanna Simonyan
Business Administration-
International Business
What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course?
I really wanted to know more about my roots and the start of Christianity because my family always encouraged it with such great passion, which motivated me to be the proud Armenian I am today.
What did you value most from your experiences in the Armenian Studies Program?
Everything in the Armenian Studies Program is very valuable to me because everything that they do teaches me. The expansion of knowledge and history is what keeps our culture alive.
What was your favorite Armenian Studies class, activity, or event?
I really enjoyed the Armenian 148-Masterpieces of Armenian Culture class because I never had the chance to analyze and read Armenian Literature and never knew how interesting it would be!
What are your plans after graduation?
I want to gain experience within my career and hope to have a business of my own that will later allow me to fund my own nonprofit organization in Armenia, which focus on economic development in order to increase the number of jobs in Armenia.